BigPontiac

The 3rd SNL installment: LINK The Joe six-pack drinking game reference was great!

Be glad he hasn't caught a skunk...it presents a similar set of challenges.

What's the batmobile?

A second SNL installment. Link.

Not likely. The 2006 TL 6MT was crap compared to my 2005 330 -- and the 2008 G37s was equally unimpressive. I'm basing my opinion on owning a BMW and spending a month driving both the Acura and Infiniti back to back with it. The difference is very noticeable.

You assumed Buick's role in the US in your thinking, not in China where they also offer small cars. Also even new Opels are being rebadged as Buicks for the Chinese market (Insignia -> Regal).

With Opel moving up market, they appear to overlap with Buick. The Opel, Saturn, Buick roles all appear to be blurring.

I think GM is wasting an opportunity with Pontiac -- I think they could easily build the brand around a single RWD 3-series sized car with coupe, convertible, sedan and wagon variants -- applying 4 and 6 cylinder power plants and manual and automatic transmissions across the line. Optional AWD as well with both transmission choices. Seeking out new, profitable niches would appear to me to be a better strategy than trying to drive incremental volume on cars that are clones of existing models with no differentiation. Figure out what people are willing to PAY a PREMIUM for and build it. A small FWD "pocket rocket" in the vein of the GTI or Mini Cooper could also be slotted in below this RWD line-up with the G8 and G8 ST above it. Simple. Given the current economic climate, Cadillac's ascent upmarket may be ill timed.

Link to Article AP Nation's biggest Chevy dealer closes dealerships Wednesday September 24, 6:00 pm ET By Kate Brumback, Associated Press Writer Nation's biggest Chevrolet dealer closes down all dealerships, cites unfavorable economy COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Bill Heard Enterprises Inc., the biggest Chevrolet dealer in the country, said Wednesday it is closing its 13 remaining dealerships, unable to survive in a weak economy with high gas prices and an inventory heavy on trucks and SUVs. The Columbus-based company said in a statement it tried to avoid the closures, which will affect about 2,700 employees. "However, the conditions necessary to sustain the business through the current challenges were not present," the statement said. The difficult sales environment was made worse by the ongoing banking and financial crisis, it said. GMAC Financial Services last month discontinued credit for new inventory for some of the company's dealerships. Phone calls to several Bill Heard dealerships Wednesday afternoon went unanswered. One employee at a Bill Heard dealership in Memphis, Tenn., said, "We're closing, that's all I can tell you," before abruptly hanging up. At another Bill Heard dealership, commotion could be heard in the background as an employee said managers would not come to the phone. The Heard operation was the single largest chain of Chevrolet dealerships in the country, said GM spokeswoman Susan Garontakos. GM will honor all Chevrolet warranties at other nearby dealerships, which can be found on the Chevrolet Web site, she said. She would not comment on reasons for the chain closing other than to say it was an independent business with GM franchise agreements. "GM dealers are responsible for managing and financing dealerships," she said. GM will work with the Heard chain and do research to decide if any of the dealers will reopen, she said. The automaker is trying to reduce its dealership ranks as its U.S. market share has declined, and Garontakos said the closure opens an opportunity to look into whether any of the Heard outlets can be consolidated into nearby dealerships. "Wherever it makes sense to keep a point open, and it's attractive enough for other dealers to take a look at it and keep it operating, we'll be doing that," she said. The company had five dealerships in Georgia and eight in five other states -- Alabama, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. A dealership in Scottsdale, Ariz. closed on Sept. 12. Late last month, the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs said in a court filing in Georgia's Fulton County that the company has participated in deceptive and misleading business practices. The company denied those allegations. Associated Press Business Writer Dan Strumpf in New York and AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this story.

Not.

Yup, you sucked me in. :AH-HA_wink: So, I find the wagon interesting but that particular Invicta really captured my attention...hence my hesitation on the wagon. If the Invicta gets worked over a bit at the dealer that bought it, then that'll same me some effort. It's also located close enough where I could personally inspect it prior to purchase vs. on eBay it was located a ways away and they didn't have a picture of the trim tag, etc so I couldn't decode what I was dealing with. I check to see if it's been listed for sale often!

I'm torn ever since I found this on eBay. I didn't win the auction, but the winner was a dealer who appears to be doing some work to it, so I've been watching their website waiting to see what they do to it and what they list it for... And I don't have a barn to get both!

I only saw one 2008 G8 at my local dealer over the weekend, and several 2009s. The 2008 is a black GT with no sunroof and all season tires -- both of the reasons I think it's still there. I noticed all the 2009s had the sunroof and several had the two-tone seats. I'll still attribute the lack of an available manual trans is hurting the car as all the leftover GTOs were all autos. The $5k mark-up I saw at another dealer also isn't helping the car sell.

It's ba-ack! LINK A little rougher than it originally appeared.

Link to Article

This clip on SNL last night was pretty funny spoofing Palin/Clinton together. Link to SNL Clip.

To quote Murray Blum the CPA from the movie "Dave" -- If I ran my business this way, I'd be out of business.

Link to Article

AutoBlog has pics up. Link to Article

General Motors Tone Selector Radio?

It's faster than you think it is. I learned to drive on an '83 LeSabre with the same motor. My mom's was light brown with a dark brown top -- it's looked almost purple sometimes. My parents special ordered it with the V-6. It was nearly a twin to this one, minus the wire wheel covers. If my memory serves me correctly, those big a@@ white wall tires are Generals.

Flashblock description page Just added this, wow what a performance difference in blocking flash-based ads!

And yet GMC.com only lets me locate 2008 vehicles, brilliant!

I found an All Terrain over the weekend with employee pricing and rebates knocking off roughly $10K off MSRP. Sadly it was ordered without the two-tone interior, though I did like the look of the Fire Red SLT on the Extended cab. Sliding rear window was also a deal breaker...oh well.

Link to Article